Modularity in support of design for re-use

We explore the structuring principle of modularity with the objective of analysing its current ability to meet the requirements of a 're-use' centred approach to design. We aim to highlight the correlation's between modular design and 're-use', and argue that it has the potential to aid the little-supported process of 'design-for-re-use'. In fulfilment of this objective we not only identify the requirements of 'design-for-re-use', but also propose how modular design principles can be extended to support 'design-for-re-use'

Economical technique for fragmentation testing

Automatic rifle was modified for remote, single-shot use. To simulate statistically--determined fragment size from rocket-motor casing blunt-nosed bullet was made of same alloy. Cartridge was loaded with enough powder to make bullet reach target at same estimated velocity as shrapnel from rocket casing

Re-using knowledge : why, what and where

Previously the 're-use' focus has centred on specific and/or standard parts, more recently however, [standard components] are being developed...to enable both the re-use of the part and the experience associated with that part'. This notion is further extended by Finger who states that 'designers may re-use a prior design in it's entirety,...may re-use an existing shape for a different function, or may re-use a feature from another design'. Reinforcing this notion we currently consider re-use to reflect the utilisation of any knowledge gained from a design activity and not just past designs of artefacts. Our research concerns the improvement of formal 're-use' support and as such we have identified a need to gain a better understanding of how design knowledge can be utilised to support 're-use'. Thus, we discuss the requirements of successful 're-use' and attempt to ascertain within this skeleton: what knowledge can be re-used; how to maximise its' applicability; and where and when it can be utilised in new design

Some Properties of Amplitudes at Multi Boson Thresholds in Spontaneously Broken Scalar Theory

It is shown that in a $\lambda \phi^4$ theory of one real scalar field with spontaneous breaking of symmetry a calculation of the amplitudes of production by a virtual field $\phi$ of $n$ on-mass-shell bosons all being exactly at rest is equivalent in any order of the loop expansion to a Euclidean space calculation of the mean field of a kink-type configuration. Using this equivalence it is found that all the $1 \to n$ amplitudes have no absorptive part at the thresholds to any order of perturbation theory. This implies non-trivial relations between multi-boson threshold production amplitudes. In particular the on-mass-shell amplitude of the process $2 \to 3$ should vanish at the threshold in all loops. It is also shown that the factor $n!$ in the $1 \to n$ amplitudes at the threshold is not eliminated by loop effects.Comment: 11 pages including 3 figures, LaTeX, TPI-MINN-92/61-

Properties of perturbative multi-particle amplitudes in ϕk\phi^k and O(N)O(N) theories

Threshold amplitudes are considered for multi-particle production in $\phi^k$ and $O(N) ~\phi^4$ theories. It is found that the disappearance of tree-level threshold amplitudes of $2$ on-shell particles producing a large number of particles occurs in $\phi^k$ theory only for $k=3$ and $k=4$. The one-loop correction to the threshold amplitude for a highly virtual scalar particle decaying into $n$ particles in an $O(N)$ model is derived.Comment: 7 pages, LaTex, TPI-MINN-92/60-